The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-01

est market town-they say town, but it is
really only hamlet. I had heard 80
much of Irish Fairs that I was very desi.
rous Of going to this one. Mr.. N. said
if we went and returned early, he thought
it would not be unpleasant, meaning we
we're to go and return before the drink
ing became excessive. So we drove over,
my two Glasgow friends and our dear lit
tie goodman. 1 was little appalled,
when l saw the crowd of cattle, horses,
sheep, goats and pigs, through which it
seemed we had to slowly force our way.
But everything was made smooth for our
car. Word had been sent ahead that
Billy Ms lodger, the American lady, was
coming to see the Cattle Fair, and the
beasts were drawn this way and that, and
narrow, but perfectly safe passage made
for us, while every bonnet and cap went
off. There we're no hats worn by the
men; it was either bonnets or caps, and a
courteous greeting came to the American
lady from every Irish lip. The Queen
herself could not have inspired more re-
spect. Aud whenever made James stop,
that might ask question of any of the
men, received quiet, pleasant answers;
while good-natrred shout went up once,
when / said to one Of the dealers, "That
calf looks as il it were meant to be served
up to some prodigal son, it is so we'll fat
tened" What happened later on, when
some were ready to go home without their
beasts, having sold them, and others with
out much money, having spent it on
beasts, L dare not say, for there was, I
learned deal of whisky sold and drank;
but they keep very clear of "the crather''
till their bargains are over.
From the Fair we DIR owe to the ruins of
the first English church, which was like
all ruins in these old countries, pictur
eeque enough to de light any artists soul
SO heavily draped with ivy. Under the
ruined walls, but quite safe from desecra-
ton, was the tomb of the Major whose
dreary funeral sermon [ had heard
preached the day before. I was thank
full, as I looked on the solemn resting
place, solemn, but beautiful with the ivy
floating over it, and flowers blooming at
the grave, that he did not have to hear his
own funeral sermcnl OF course l carried
away armsful of that ivy, for never have
any hesitation in breaking off ivy over
here, it grows go luxurjantly. And some
of this is now roofing in vases beside me.
reminding me not of the sermon heard,
but of the everlasting hope.
The next day was memorable one, for
I climbed to the top of that high hill
really mountain, that had been looking
down on me all the time had been in
Upper ALA. It's name,-O, what time
I had to get it's name! It was long
while before I could catch it at all from
the Irish lips; but I finally made out that
they called it Cruge Duaish-the q soft.
But you will never be able to pronounce
it right, till you have heard it, nor then,
if you are not Irish or Scotch. When I
asked them to spell it for me, there WAS
blank stare OF dismay. But L finally
got hold of one extra-intelligent man
| WIZ OApld IL bOmCWhdt' AC Edl0
Cruge was the Irish way of calling Craig
for it was really craig, and formerly, on
the summit was an immense and deep peat
field, which gave the top Of the Craig
black look. 80, there" said I, cts Dhu,
with lot of other letters" for learned in
the Isle OF Man that Dhu meant black, Wis
ting once at Glen Dhu, the black glen.
eyes, he said, ''that's it, but 1 cannot
tell you how many letters to put IN, but
all you can think Of" So I wrote it
Craig Dhuaiach, and he said that would
dol
We drove roundabout way to the
foot of Craig Dhuaiach, where lies the
farm of Mrs. N 8 aged mother, who with
one son and daughter lives here, at the
end of long loaming, so rough that we
had to walk up the whole length. So far
from neighborsl 1t was almost Robin
son Crusoe life Yet here was really
nice two-story house, gardens, fields and
everything comfortable. The view was
charming, for though at the front Of the
Craig, the elevation was already very
great, and it seemed as if all the kingdom
of Ireland lay below you, in seeming
calmress.
Before I made the ascent of Craig
Dhuaiach, I had very singular expe
rience, which shows how little the world
is, after all. Just opposite the front door
of this two. story dwelling where l was a
guest for the afternoon, in the same door
yard, was little cabin, so lorn, so small
that it might rather be called hut, of
only one room. It was so completely COW
cred with ivy and stone crop that it looked
like tiny mound Of greenness, and you
would hardly have believed it was hu-
man habitation had not thin wreath of
smoke curled up out Of the ivy and stone
crop and very small window of diamond
shaped glass been kept free from the
vines by careful cutting of them. In
this cabin has lived for many, many years
now the uncle of the young people we
visited, the brother of their mothers hus-
band. For many years he lived in Phil
adelphia, having settled there when quite
young man. The death of his wife and
the loss of his property brought on such
homesickness that he returned to Ire
land and threw himself on the love of his
1 1. la hi